Meet the Guides
Fish with the best Southwest Montana Fly Fishing Guides
An essential aspect of an enjoyable guided fly fishing trip is the guide. A friendly, experienced, knowledgeable guide can be the difference between a mediocre day on the water, and an epic one. The guide staff at the Sunrise Fly Shop is the best in Southwest Montana, and every member of the guide staff is dedicated in making every day of fishing on the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Jefferson, and Clark Fork Rivers a phenomenal one.
Ryan Barba
Ryan is one of the owners of the Sunrise Fly Shop. Having spent the last two decades as a fly fishing guide in Montana, Ryan has a vast knowledge of the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers and the trout of the Rocky Mountains. You will find Ryan to be easy going and an exceptional communicator. Ryan is on the Clackacraft Drift Boat Pro Staff and he has a true dedication to the rivers while showing you an enjoyable time while in Southwest Montana.
Eric Thorson
As one of the owners of the Sunrise Fly Shop, Eric is dedicated to ensuring that each day on the river is a memorable fly fishing experience for everyone involved. Not only is Eric a seasoned fly fisherman and guide, but he also has a degree in Wildlife Biology and is eager to share his knowledge of both Montana Rivers and local Wildlife. When the trout season comes to an end in Montana, Eric tries to spend as much time as possible flats fishing in the Caribbean.
Lee Coyle
Lee is one of the most diverse and gregarious guides you will ever get the chance to fish with. In addition to being a spectacular fly fishing guide, Lee has also worked as a Mixologist, Hockey Referee, and a Professional Wrestler.
A graduate of University of Montana, Lee was born and raised in Billings and grew up fly fishing the rivers and creeks of Eastern Montana. After college, Lee decided to make the rivers of Montana his workplace. Having guided on the Big Horn, Missouri, Madison, Big Hole, and Beaverhead Rivers, Lee brings his vast knowledge of fly fishing and Montana trout to the river every day.
Cody Haines
Cody grew up in Pennsylvania and at a very young age he had a love for the wild rivers. He was gifted a fly rod when he was 10 with no instruction other than trial and error. Cody found himself in central Pennsylvania fishing on spring creeks in search of wild trout. While he was deployed with the Army he planned a trip to Montana knowing he wanted to spend more time on Western rivers. After his first trip he fell in love with the Rockies and the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. Cody knew he needed to make these rivers his home. After a few annual trips to fish the Big Hole and Beaverhead he decided to make the move and his guiding career has been with Sunrise Fly Shop ever since. Cody is a pleasure to be around and spend days on the water learning his expertise of the freestone rivers and tailwaters of Southwest Montana.
Andy Barkley
Andy grew up in Minneapolis where he learned how to fly fish on the small streams of Minnesota’s driftless area. Spending summer vacations in the Rockies, he grew to love the outdoors and mountains of the West. While attending Colorado State University, he began guiding around Rocky Mountain National Park and on the Colorado River. Now as a full-time guide on the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers, Andy enjoys sharing his passion for fly fishing with beginners and experts alike.
Rick Rossi
Rick has been guiding for the Sunrise Fly Shop since 1997. As the head of the Math Department at Montana Tech in Butte, he is not only a great fly fishing guide but has the true demeanor of a teacher. With his vast knowledge of fly fishing the Big Hole River and a great sense of humor, you will enjoy every outing on the river with Rick.
Jeff Tart
Jeff grew up trout fishing the creeks and rivers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia and North Carolina.
After graduating from North Georgia Military College and spending some time in the U.S. Army he started guiding fishing in 1997. Since then, he has spent his time as a fishing, waterfowl and big game guide in Alaska, Montana, Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia, and Argentina. Jeff currently splits his time between Alaska and Montana, spending his summers enjoying the beauty of Big Sky country. He is a history buff who enjoys meeting new people and spending as much time on the water and in the wilderness as possible.